Dr M Thompson 
Via email:  [FOI #13832 email]  
 
 
24 July 2009  
 
Dear Dr Thompson 
 
RFI20090930 - Freedom of Information request 
Thank you for your request of 28th June 2009 under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.  The 
reference number for your request is RFI20090930.   
You requested information on how much the BBC makes from BBC America compared to the cost 
of running it.  You also asked if the BBC America channel or site were being run at a loss to the 
British licence fee payer.  
 
BBC Worldwide Limited (‘BBC Worldwide’), which is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC, holds the 
information you requested.  BBC Worldwide is not covered by the Freedom of lnformation Act for 
information other than that which it holds on behalf of the BBC (Section 6(1)(b)(ii)).  The information 
you have requested about BBC America is not held by BBC Worldwide on behalf of the BBC.  
 
Although it is outside the scope of the Act, BBC Worldwide is happy to volunteer the following 
information. 
 
BBC America is a commercial business operated by BBC Worldwide, which is funded without 
recourse to the BBC licence fee and the BBC public service.  BBC Worldwide exists to maximise the 
BBC’s assets for the benefit of the licence fee payer.  BBC America therefore purchases the 
programmes it transmits at market rate from the BBC and other UK broadcasters.  Its profits are then 
returned through BBC Worldwide to the BBC for further investment in programmes.  In addition, 
BBC America contributes directly to BBC programming by investing in co-productions which helps 
bring core BBC shows to UK audiences. In recent years, productions such as Torchwood and Robin 
Hood were made possible through this arrangement. 
 
 

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BBC America is a profitable business, which made a profit of just over £4m in the financial year 
2008/09, up from £2m in the financial year 2007/08.  Information about the performance of BBC 
America is available in the Channels section of BBC Worldwide’s Annual Review, which is available for 
download on the BBC Worldwide website at http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview.htm .   
 
If you are not satisfied with this response you have the right to an internal review by a BBC senior 
manager or legal adviser. Please contact us at the address above, explaining what you would like us to 
review and including your reference number. If you are not satisfied with the internal review, you can 
appeal to the Information Commissioner. The contact details are: Information Commissioner's Office, 
Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF, telephone 01625 545 700 or see 
http://www.ico.gov.uk . 
 
Yours sincerely, 
 
Jane Earl 
Company Secretary 
BBC Worldwide Limited 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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